According to a Channel 10 News report, if Bayit Yehudi ministers remain adamant regarding the party’s demand to appoint a military secretary to cabinet, they will be dismissed from their cabinet posts. The report comes as intensive talks are ongoing between representatives of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett to reach a solution surrounding Bennett’s demands. Persons in the Bennett camp are quoted saying the PM’s people sabotaged the progress in the negotiators.

At present, Bayit Yehudi officials report that if PM Netanyahu does not comply with demands to appoint a military secretary to cabinet, they will vote against the deal to bring the Yisrael Beitenu party into the coalition as well as making Avigdor Lieberman Minister of Defense and Sofia Landver Minister of Absorption. Bennett insists he will “take it to the end”, indicating he is not afraid of destroying the coalition and compelling new elections.

In in the meantime, Channel 2 News reports that if Bennett does vote against the coalition deal to bring Yisrael Beitenu into the government, Justice Minister Shaked, Education Minister Bennett and Agriculture Minister Ariel will be dismissed from their cabinet positions. The vote is expected to take place on Thursday, 25 Iyar.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)